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The potential for large-scale savings from insulating residential buildings in the EU

Lechtenböhmer, Stefan LU and Schüring, Andreas (2011) In Energy Efficiency 4(2). p.257-270
Abstract

Energy used in buildings is responsible for more than 40% of energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the EU and their share in cost-efficient GHG mitigation potentials is estimated to be even higher. In spite of its huge savings potential of up to 80%, achievements are very slow in the building sector and much stronger political action seems to be needed. One important step in this direction has been the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in autumn 2009. However, strong national implementation including powerful packages of flanking measures seems to be crucial to really make significant progress in this important field. In order to directly improve political action, we provide a... (More)

Energy used in buildings is responsible for more than 40% of energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the EU and their share in cost-efficient GHG mitigation potentials is estimated to be even higher. In spite of its huge savings potential of up to 80%, achievements are very slow in the building sector and much stronger political action seems to be needed. One important step in this direction has been the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in autumn 2009. However, strong national implementation including powerful packages of flanking measures seems to be crucial to really make significant progress in this important field. In order to directly improve political action, we provide a differentiated country-by-country bottom up simulation of residential buildings for the whole EU, Norway, Iceland, Croatia and Liechtenstein. The analysis provides a database of the building stock by construction periods, building types, as well as typical building sizes. It includes a simulation of the thermal quality and costs of the components of the building shell for new buildings as well as the refurbishment of the existing building stock. Based on this differentiated analysis, we show in detail what would be needed to accelerate energy savings in the building sector and provide a more precise estimate of the potentials to be targeted by particular policies. We demonstrate, e. g. that the potential of building codes set via the EPBD would be located mainly in those countries that already have quite stringent codes in place. We show as well the high relevance of accelerating refurbishments and re-investment cycles of buildings. By providing a clear estimate of the full costs related to such a strategy, we highlight a major obstacle to accelerated energy-efficient building renovation and construction.

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author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Energy efficiency, Energy saving potentials in buildings, EU27, Policies and measures for energy efficiency, Residential building sector
in
Energy Efficiency
volume
4
issue
2
pages
14 pages
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:79952622938
ISSN
1570-646X
DOI
10.1007/s12053-010-9090-6
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
675d9768-61f7-47e0-90cc-0aa68e966c9a
date added to LUP
2018-10-07 10:06:02
date last changed
2022-01-31 05:47:38
@article{675d9768-61f7-47e0-90cc-0aa68e966c9a,
  abstract     = {{<p>Energy used in buildings is responsible for more than 40% of energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the EU and their share in cost-efficient GHG mitigation potentials is estimated to be even higher. In spite of its huge savings potential of up to 80%, achievements are very slow in the building sector and much stronger political action seems to be needed. One important step in this direction has been the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in autumn 2009. However, strong national implementation including powerful packages of flanking measures seems to be crucial to really make significant progress in this important field. In order to directly improve political action, we provide a differentiated country-by-country bottom up simulation of residential buildings for the whole EU, Norway, Iceland, Croatia and Liechtenstein. The analysis provides a database of the building stock by construction periods, building types, as well as typical building sizes. It includes a simulation of the thermal quality and costs of the components of the building shell for new buildings as well as the refurbishment of the existing building stock. Based on this differentiated analysis, we show in detail what would be needed to accelerate energy savings in the building sector and provide a more precise estimate of the potentials to be targeted by particular policies. We demonstrate, e. g. that the potential of building codes set via the EPBD would be located mainly in those countries that already have quite stringent codes in place. We show as well the high relevance of accelerating refurbishments and re-investment cycles of buildings. By providing a clear estimate of the full costs related to such a strategy, we highlight a major obstacle to accelerated energy-efficient building renovation and construction.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lechtenböhmer, Stefan and Schüring, Andreas}},
  issn         = {{1570-646X}},
  keywords     = {{Energy efficiency; Energy saving potentials in buildings; EU27; Policies and measures for energy efficiency; Residential building sector}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{257--270}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Energy Efficiency}},
  title        = {{The potential for large-scale savings from insulating residential buildings in the EU}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12053-010-9090-6}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s12053-010-9090-6}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}